THE Drug
Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Lusaka has arrested a Senegalese businessman
together with his Zambian wife for being in possession of US$21,000 counterfeit
notes.

DEC public relations officer, John Nyawali identified the suspect
as Paul Wakazika, 38, a businessman and his Zambian wife, Trinidad Njovu of
Mandevu Township who were arrested after a tip from the public.

Mr
Nyawali said yesterday that DEC had also confiscated a printing machine and
chemicals suspected to have been used in producing the notes.

"I can
confirm that we have arrested Mr Wakazika who is a businessman and preliminary
investigations reveal that he was assisted by his wife in the dubious activity
as he was also found in possession of a Zambian National Registration Card," he
said.

He said the fake dollars notes were concealed in $100 notes and
commended the public for alerting the commission. He said the seizure of $21,000
brings the total amount of fake notes to $2.5 million from January this year and
that the commission would continue being alert to ensure that the fake notes
were not distributed on the market.

He said currency dealers were
targeting peasant farmers who had no access to machines to detect whether the
notes were fake or not.

Mr Nyawali warned that the commission would not
hesitate to ensure those involved in dubious activities were brought to book. He
called on the farmers in the country to be on the look-out to avoid losing their
money. He advised them to them to always consider buying their currencies from
registered bureaus or banks.

The two have since been remanded in custody
awaiting court appearance.